Staffordshire.

STAFFORDSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at Tamworth , on Monday , 20 th inst , when it is expected the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master will preside , and superintend the usual business of the year .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE yearly meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at Leigh , on Wednesday , 12 th June next , under the popular Prov . Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , who ,

we are pleased to notice , has consented to preside at next year ' s Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . No doubt the Brethren of his lordship ' s Province will take the opportunity of testifying their loyalty , and sympathy with their chief in the good cause he has decided to advocate .

Durham.

DURHAM .

AN important and very interesting function took place

at Durham on Saturday last , in the installation of the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., as Grand Superintendent of the Province , in succession to the late Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart , who for some years occupied the position .

The Rev . Canon Tristram , as is well known , is a distinguished Mason , and has occupied well nigh the whole of the more important positions of the Order , of which he has been a member for close on to six decades . Fie was initiated into the Craft , at Oxford , in 1844 . Two years later , when

acting as chaplain to the 20 th Regiment , m Bermuda , he was advanced to the Mark degree in the Minden Lodge , attached to the 20 th Regiment . Since that date he has held many positions in connection with Masonry , has received many distinctions , and has justified the choice and the

responsibilities that have been placed upon him . Amongst other positions which Canon Tristram has filled may be mentioned that of Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of England , an honour which he received as far back as 1884 . In the year 1885 he received the distinction of being

appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Durham . In the year 1873 he was appointed Provincial Grand Mark Master of Northumberland and Dufham , whilst in other positions Canon Tristram has done imperishable work in advancing the Order .

In the words of another distinguished Mason in the Durham Province : " Canon Tristram has been a true and loyal Mason , one who has always observed the tenets of the Order , and one who has been an example to all Masons to follow . "

The interesting proceedings upon the occasion of the presentation to the Rev . Canon and Mrs . Tristram on their silver wedding in February of last year will not soon be forgotten by Masons , at whose hands Canon and Mrs . Tristram were the recipients of many valuable and gratifying gifts to mark the event .

The Carft In Ireland.

THE CARFT IN IRELAND .

AN imposing ceremony took place on the 29 th ult ., in the Exhibition Hall , Botanic Gardens , Belfast , when a large gathering assembled for the purpose of assisting at the installation of the Earl of Shaftesbury into the important

The Carft In Ireland.

Office of Provincial Grand Master of Antrim—a position rendered vacant by the resignation of the Marquis of Hertford . The Earl of Shaftesbury is a P . M . of Lodge 25 , Dublin , and of Lodges 7 and 10 , Belfast . He is deservedly popular with the members of the Craft , who feel it to be a

great honour to be presided over by a scion of a house whose history is so intimately connected with the North of Ireland , and whose grandfather occupied for twenty-seven years the position to which his grandson has just been installed .

In the absence of the Duke of Abercorn Grand Master of Ireland the installation ceremony was performed by Bro . Sir James Creed Meredith , LL . D ., Deputy G . M . of Ireland , who was accompanied by several Grand Officers . Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened the new Prov . G . M . was installed according to ancient custom , and

subsequently desired to very briefly thank the Brethren of the Province who had come to support him at his installation . He snould also like to thank Bro . Sir James Creed Meredith Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , and the other Grand Lodge Officers , for their kindness in coming' to instal him . Fie

could assure them that so long as he was spared to preside as Provincial Grand Master over the Province of Antrim he would endeavour to the best of his ability to discharge

his duties so that the Craft would be supported in every way . Bro . R . J . Hilton D . G . M . Antrim said , in the name of and on behalf of the Province of Antrim , he could assure the Earl that his nomination was received with universal

satisfaction . They remembered that in the past his noble grandfather presided over the Province for the long period of twenty-seven years , and everyone would join in the hope that the grandson would long be spared to rule over the Province of Antrim .

Lancashire Charity.

LANCASHIRE CHARITY .

AN adjourned meeting of Brethren interested m the Alpass Benevolent Institution for Widows of Freemasons was held on the 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street ,

Liverpool , for the purpose of considering the arrangements with regard to the annual Festival gathering in aid of the Funds of the Charity . The chair was occupied by Brother Banner Newton P . P . G . Treas ., and there was a very large attendance , including a numerous contingent of Brethren

from Blackpool . After considerable discussion it was resolved to hold the yearly Festival at Blackpool towards the end of September , when , it is expected , a distinguished Brother will preside . Bro . A . W . Taylor 147 6 and Bro . G . A . Harradon P . P . G . Treas . were appointed Hon . Secretaries ,

and Brother Brandwood P . P . G . D . was elected Honorary Treasurer . It may be stated that the result of last year ' s festival at Blackpool amounted in an addition to the charity of £ 1 , 400 the largest sum which has ever been realised in connection with these annual festival gatherings .

ON Friday evening of last week the final meeting of the Committee in charge of the arrangements of the fifty-second Annual Festival and Ball in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , held at the

Town Hall , Liverpool , m J anuary , took place at the Temple , Hope Street , where there was a numerous gathering . The chair was occupied by Bro . A . Shawfield , Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge , No . 2837 . On the motion of the Chairman , seconded

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Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS . 2 U 5 U Boys hai > e received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1798 . 293 Boys are now ? being Educated , Clothed , and maintained . The ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL will be held on 26 th June igoi , under the distinguished Presidency of THE RIGHT HON . W . W . BRAMSTON BEACH , M . P ., R . W . ProV . Grand Master for Hampshire and Isle of Wight , Trustee of the Institution . The services of Ladies and Brethren as Stewards are earnestly requested , and will be gratefully acknowledged . CONTRIBUTION S EARNESTLY SOLICITED . Secretary—] . MORRISON McLEOD ( VICE-PATRON ) , 6 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W , C .